In failed long-distance swim, jellyfish stings trumped technology

Diana Nyad, a 64-year-old distance swimmer attempting to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys, called it quits last week partway through her journey, citing "extreme exhaustion."

She could just as well have cited jellyfish stings, which she felt despite wearing a high-tech wetsuit designed to prevent her from feeling the stings. The suit, made by California-based FINIS, conformed to marathon swimming regulations by not containing neoprene, although the exact makeup of the suit wasn't made public.

There isn't much point now, because the suit allowed at least nine stings to get through. The venomous stings slowed her swim and put her life at risk, according to Discovery News.